Effects of hand clasping and arm folding on academic performance

BACKGRoUND:Similar to handedness.hand claspin£and arm folding are also lateral preferences. Previous studies showed a variation frequency for hand clasping and arm folding among difierent populations. oBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between paterns of lateral preferences rhand clasping or arm folding)and academic performance of middle school students DESIGN.TIME AND SETTINGS:Cross—sectiona1 investigation The data were colected in the Beijin£ Zhongguancun High School in Beijing in May 2007.Data analysis was performed in the State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning.Bdjing Normal University during June to July 2007 PARTIClPANTS:A total of 1 02 senior—grade students from Beijing zhongguancun High School,including 58 males and 44 females.were selected for this study. M ETH0DS:Dirferent forills of hand clasping and arm folding were recorded.More specifically.hand clasping was either right—thumb-top or left—thumb—top,and arm folding was either right-arm-top or left—arm—top.Students with congruent preference used right—thumb—top—right—arm—top or left—thumb—top—left—arm—top.and incongruent preference was displayed by right-thumb—top—left—arm—top or left—thumb—top—right—arm—top.Academic performances were colected from mid—term exams in six subjects (Chinese,Mathematics,English,Physics,Chemistry,and Biology),with a total points=1 00 for each.A three—way(hand clasping,arm folding.and sex)AN0VA was performed to determine the efect on academic performances. MAIN 0UTCoM E M EASURES:The relationship between hand clasping.arm folding.sex.and academic performance of students. RESULTS:f 1)There was no signifcant diference in distribution frequency between right—thumb—top and left—thumb—top(P>0.O5),or between right—arm—top and left—arm—top(P>0.05).The distribution frequency diference between boys and girls was not signifcant for any subtype(P>0.05).(2)hand clasping had no signifcant main efect on any of the six subjects fP>0 05).The right—arm—top students received signifcantly higher points in Chinese,Physics,Chemistry,and Biology,compared with the left—arm—top students(P< 0.O5).A significant sexua1 difierence was detected in academic performance in Chinese and English;girls had higher scores than the boys(P<0.O5)The students with congruent preference scored higher in English. compared with those with incongruent preference fP<0.05). C0NCLUS10N:The arm folding form of 1ateral preference had a significant effect on academic perforlnance of middle schoo1 students implying that this human laterality index is of great functiona1 ~mportance. Key W ords:academic performance;arm folding:hand clasping;middle schoo1 students Received:2008—03—06;Accepted:2008—06—18 (07一S一10—0943/SHM) Corresponding author:Yu~ng Zang,Doctor,Investigator . State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning Beijing Normal University,Beijing 1 00875,China E-mail:zangyf@gmail corn 914 Zhenxiang Zang,Beijing Zh0ngguancun High School Beijng 1 00080.China Suppofled by:the National Natural Science of China. No 30621 1 30074 Zang ZX,Han ZZ,Zang YF Efects of hand clasping and arm folding on academic peformance Neu ral Regen Res 2008;3(8):91 4-7 www sjzsyj com/Journal/ 0808/08—08—91 4 hlml Zang ZX,el a1./Neural Regeneration Research,2008, !: